FINAL SCORE
Monmouth 1 (9-1-5, 5-0-2 CAA)
UNCW 0 (4-7-5, 2-3-3 CAA)
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Cassie Coster made eight saves to help power the Monmouth University women's soccer team to a 1-0 win over UNCW in Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) play Thursday night.
The Hawks won their third straight match and remain unbeaten in CAA play with three contests remaining in the regular season.
Monmouth tested UNCW early as
Emily De Almeida put a shot on goal in the sixth minute that was saved by the visiting keeper.
The Hawks continued to apply the pressure, firing off several shots before UNCW took its first shot in the 33rd minute that was saved by Coster.
The two sides continued to battle and went into the half tied at 0-0.
The Hawks wasted little time getting on the board in the second half. UNCW attempted to clear the ball out in the 47th minute but
Maddison Perna headed the ball back into the box. That ball landed at the feet of De Almeida, who made a short pass to
Loren Gehret who buried a low shot in the back of the net. That gave the home team a 1-0 advantage.
UNCW applied the pressure, but Coster and the Monmouth defense were up to the challenge. Coster made several diving saves, coming off the line to disrupt the UNCW offense.
Coster got some help from
Lauren Bruno,
Gabby Allen,
Ava Allen and
Grace Notarfrancesco. The Hawks' backline got back and cleared out several balls to help seal a 1-0 victory.
NOTES
- Monmouth moved to 2-0 all-time against UNCW. The Hawks have outscored the Seahawks 4-1 in those two contests.
- Monmouth has won three straight matches, the Hawks' longest win streak of the season. All three of the wins in this stretch have come by a 1-0 score.
- Seven of Monmouth's nine wins this season have come via the shutout.
- Monmouth sits one point out of first place in the CAA standings with three matches remaining in the regular season.
- Monmouth remains unbeaten in CAA play and unbeaten at home this season.
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Loren Gehret's goal was her fourth of the season. She becomes the fourth different Hawk to score at least four goals this year (
Summer Reimet,
Liza Suydam,
Ashley Lavrich, Gehret).
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Maddison Perna picked up her first point of the season with an assist. She is the 14th different player to record at least one point this season.
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Cassie Coster picked up her third straight shutout and her CAA leading eighth of the year.
- Coster's eight saves in the contest were one off her season-high (nine at Northeastern).
- Coster now has 28 career shutouts in 52 matches for the Hawks.
NUMBERS CRUNCH
- UNCW held a 12-9 advantage in shots in the contest. UNCW put eight shots on goal to Monmouth's four in the match.
- UNCW took nine of the match's 12 corner kicks.
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Cassie Coster made eight saves to earn the win in goal for the Hawks.
- Morgan Hobbs finished with three saves in the loss for UNCW.
UP NEXT
- Monmouth hits the road for its next two contests. The road swing starts with a rematch of the 2023 CAA Championship match. Monmouth visits Towson on Sunday, Oct. 20 for a 1 p.m. contest.
